Wheaton Municipal Band cancels June and July concerts

If you've driven by Memorial Park in downtown Wheaton, you have seen the new band shell. It towers over the park as bulldozers put the finishing touches on the landscaping. 2020 was supposed to be the unveiling of Wheaton's newest performance space and the Wheaton Municipal Band Board had big plans for the unveiling.

However, under the current pandemic conditions, the Wheaton Municipal Band Board, the City of Wheaton, and the Wheaton Park District have agreed that it is in the best interest of safety for the concert-going public and musicians that all concerts be canceled for the months of June and July 2020.

Pending any developments with COVID-19, any decisions by the governor of Illinois, and any decisions by the City of Wheaton and Wheaton Park District, there may be a chance to have an abbreviated season in early August, which may include 2 concerts in Memorial Park at the new band shell.

This decision was not made lightly, as no other season in the band's 90-year history has ever been canceled. The band continued to play during World War II, after JFK was assassinated, and 9/11. The safety and health of the audience, musicians, and city residents is of primary importance at this point.

2020 was to mark the grand opening of the new Memorial Park band shell and an extravaganza of concerts. Dr. Bruce Moss, music director, who lives in Bowling Green, Ohio, cannot envision a summer season away from the Wheaton Municipal Band and Memorial Park.

"While we are greatly anticipating the opening of the new band shell in Memorial Park, we are also understanding of making this opening event and future events happen in the safest possible environment. We look forward to sharing many things with our audiences on Facebook and other types of social media until such time that we can be present with you in the park," said Moss.

For the past 90 years, the Wheaton Municipal Band musicians and the audience look forward to the summer concerts in Memorial Park. It is a tradition and will greatly be missed during the summer of 2020. The band is still hoping that maybe one or two concerts can safely be performed in August. For details, information, and bits of musical entertainment, keep checking Facebook and www.wheatonmunicipalband.org.